Air conditioning apparatus



April 19, 1966 K, GABLE ETAL 3,246,477

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1965 INVENTORS GERALD K. GABLE GEORGE D. HUDELSON.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,246,477 AER CONDITIONING APPARATUS Gerald K. Gable, North Syracuse, and George D. Hudelson, Cazenovia, N.Y., assignors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,846 Claims. (Cl. 62-3) This invention relates broadly to air conditioning apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus for transferring heat to either heat or cool air in an enclosure. Still more particularly, this invention relates to air conditioning apparatus employing thermoelectric heat pumping equipment.

This invention has for its chief object the provision of an air conditioning apparatus of the kind described primarily useful in conjunction with ceiling diffuser type air supply systems utilized in buildings having many separate rooms or enclosures requiring either heated or cooled air.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an air conditioning apparatus for use in either heating or cooling air within an enclosure normally served by a central heating or cooling system supplying air to the enclosure through spaces disposed above the ceiling of the enclosure within which the supporting structure for the floors and ceilings of a multi-story building is located.

With a central system of the kind described, air from the central station is forwarded by suitable fan means through appropriate ductwork and the spaces above the separate rooms and then through ceiling diffusers in the rooms to satisfy either a heating or cooling requirement depending primarily upon the particular season of the year. In many instances the entire building or a zone within the building is provided with a single temperature sensing means located in one of the rooms. Very often the other rooms in the zone will be either overheated or overcooled as the system attempts to satisfy the thermal requirement in the room housing the control. This invention relates to apparatus useful in combination with thesystem described to regulate the temperature of the air in the rooms other than the room housing the control. For example, the air conditioning apparatus contemplated herein may, during a time when the central station is on a heating cycle, operate to cool air circulating locally within a separate room or enclosure. receiving heated air from the central station. In cooling the air the apparatus will reject heat to the supply of heated air being delivered to the room or area containing the system control unit. Thus, the operation of the central station system will be more satisfactory in terms of fulfilling the requirement of the individual rooms.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved air conditioning apparatus constructed and arranged so as to be easily mounted in a space above the ceiling of a room or enclosure to be served by the apparatus. Thus, the apparatus may be employed to either heat or cool air flowing within the enclosure.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an air conditioning apparatus employing a thermoelectric heat pumping system and in which a pan is provided for mounting the thermoelectric heat pumping elements in panel form, the pan also mounting a circuit for a recirculating fluid that acts as a heat source when the thermoelectric heat pumping system is operating on the heating cycle and acts as a heat sink when the thermoelectric heat pumping system is operating on the cooling cycle.

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Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon a consideration of the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a side view of an air conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view of the portion of the fan and ducts employed to deliver air treated by the apparatus to the enclosure sewed thereby; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view with portions removed illustrating the thermoelectric heat pumping means employed in the construction illustratedin FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings for an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be noted that the air conditioning apparatus 8 shown therein includes a first sub-assembly 10 including the thermoelectric heat pumping means 12 together with a casing 14 therefor and a heat transfer coil 16 shown as part of a continuously recirculating water circuit for the purpose of transferring heat, either absorbed or rejected from the thermoelectric means, to air in the space surrounding the coil. A supporting pan 18 adapted to be hung from the joist or structural beams forming a part of the building construction and located above a ceiling 19, is employed for the purpose of supporting the coil and the thermoelectric heat pumping means. As understood herein, thermoelectric heat pumping means refers to a thermoelectric refrigeration unit in the form of one or more panels comprising a plurality of thermoelectric couples including p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements connected by straps forming junctions. The junctions produce either a heating effect or a cooling effect as an electric current is passed therethrough, the thermal character of the junction being dependent upon the orientation of the adjoining p-type and n-type element with respect to the flow of the current. This is more comm-only known as the Peltier effect. A change in current flow will reverse the thermal characteristic of the junctions. Thus, air flowing over one set of junctions may be heated or cooled.

In addition to the sub-assembly described, there is included an air handling section 20, including a transition duct 22 connected to the outlet of the casing 14, housing the thermoelectric heat pumping means, a fan 24 for delivering air treated by the thermoelectric heat pumping means through an opening 26 in the ceiling to the enclosure being served by the apparatus. Discharge duct 21 connects fan 24 with opening 26.

The particular thermoelectric heat pumping means employed herein comprises a series of thermoelectric panels 25 consisting of a number of p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements connected by juncture straps and arranged so that when subjected to the flow of current therethrough will provide hot junctions on one side of the panel and cold junctions on the other. This arrangement is conventional and is utilized under circumstances where thermoelectric heat pumping means are employed to produce either a cooling or heating ef fect. An example of such a construction will be found in application for United States Letters Patent, Serial Number 195,907, filed May 18, 1962, issued January 19, 1965, as United Letters Patent 3,165,900 and assigned to the assignee of this application. The thermoelectric heat pumping means includes extended heat transfer surface connected to the side of the thermoelectric panel having cold junctions assembled thereon when a cooling effect is desired. The extended surface is shown as two rows of relatively thin copper ribbon material 27 folded back upon itself so as to form a plurality of spaced openings 29 defined by the folds of the metallic ribbon. Disposed in heat transfer relation with the hot junctions is a heat transfer member 31 arranged to pass water flowing in the circulating water circuit in heat transfer relation with the hot junctions.

A continuously circulating water circuit includes a heat transfer coil 16 mounted on a wall member 39 projecting upwardly from the pan 18. The wall member surrounds pan opening 32 which, when the apparatus is mounted above the ceiling, communicates with an opening in the ceiling, preferably in that portion of the ceiling overlying the room or area adjacent thereto. A conduit 34 is shown for directing water from the coil 16 to a header 36. From the header water flows through branch members 38, to an internal central wall 40 then laterally through one-half of the passage in which heattransfer member 31 is located in heat transfer relation with adjacent hot junctions on two adjacent panels 25, when the apparatus is being employed to cool air. The water then flows into a return header 44 and then passes through the other side of the passage accommodating ,heat transfer member 31 in heat transfer relation with other hot junctions, to the branch members located on the other side of the central Wall 4!) and to the heat transfer coil via pump 46 and conduits 48.

As indicated above, there is provided a casing 14 forming an enclosure for the thermoelectric panels. The

' casing surrounds an opening 50 in the pan 18. The casing includes space for a number of thermoelectric panels to be placed one on top of the other inside the casing, note FIG. 3. There is located in the casing 14 a filter, not shown, arranged in communication with air flowing through opening 50 in the pan 18 and into the easing for flow over the metallic heat transfer surface 27 secured to the cold junctions of the thermoelectric panels. Contact of air with the interposed heat transfer member 31 is prevented by suitable insulation 32 secured to the ends adjacent the air stream. The opening 50 is the pan for the supply of room air is in registry with a ceiling opening in the room being served by the apparatus. Flow of air into the casing from the room is under influence of a fan 25 disposed downstream of the thermoelectric heat pumping means. Discharge of the fan communicates with the room at a point spaced from the opening in ceiling permitting the flow of air into the apparatus. Suitable control means are employed for the purpose of supplying an electric current to the connections 52 on the thermoelectric panels.

The operation of the apparatus will be described as it applies to a room or enclosure served by a central station air treating plant, the regulation of which is under the control of thermal sensing means disposed in adjacent area C. The apparatus 8 is shown in FIGURE 1 mounted above the ceiling in enclosure B, an enclosure subject to flow of air from the central station through diffuser 60 communicating with plenum 62, accommodating the apparatus. It will be understood that air is supplied to plenum 62 from the central station via appropriate ductwork, not. shown. Assuming the building, including areas B and C, requires heated air in order for comfort conditions to obtain, air at an elevated temperature will be supplied to area B through diffuser 6t) and to area C by another diffuser, not shown, in parallel therewith. With the operation of the central station under control of conditions existing in area C, it will be obvious that area B may be overheated. Adjustment of diffuser dampers in area B will not satisfactorily overcome the over-heating for its requires manual adjustment and inconvenience due to satisfaction of the requirement in the control area.

With the air conditioning apparatus described herein assembled in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, the control for the apparatus may be energized to cause the junctions on the panels 25 in engagement with metallic ribbon heat transfer member 27 to become the cold junction. Room air then flowing under the influence of fan 24 through opening 50, into heat transfer relation with the heat transfer members 27 will be cooled and delivered to the room through opening 26.

Should the central station be operating to supply cool air to the building the control serving the apparatus 8 shown in FIGURE 1 can be actuated so that the junctions on panels 25 in engagement with heat transfer member 27 will become the hot junction and air flowing under influence of fan 24 will be heated. It will be understood that during operation of the apparatus 8 the pump 46 is energized and water is continuously recirculating to either reject heat to the air flowing downwardly through opening 32 or absorb heat from the air.

The apparatus may also be employed to supply either heated or cooled air to an enclosure wherein the apparatus alone is the sole source of heated or cooled air.

While we have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Air conditioning apparatus comprising a supporting pan including first and second spaced openings, casing means surrounding the first of said pan openings, refrigeration means disposed in said casing means, fan and duct means for inducing air to flow into said casing means through said first opening into heat exchange relation with a portion of the refrigeration means and to be discharged therefrom, heat transfer means supported on said pan is registry with the second of said openings, conduit means forming with said heat transfer means a circuit for the flow of a heat transfer fluid, a part of said circuit being disposed in heat exchange relation with a second portion of said refrigeration means so that heat either absorbed or rejected by said heat transfer fluid as it flows in heat exchange relation with said refrigeration means will be either rejected or absorbed in said heat transfer means.

2. Air conditioning apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said refrigeration means includes at least one thermoelectric panel comprising thermoelectric couples arranged so that the junctions formed on one side of the panel posses the same thermal properties and the junctions on the opposite side of the panel possess opposite thermal properties.

3. Air conditioning apparatus as described in claim 2 including a pump for recirculating the heat transfer fluid throughout said circuit.

4. In combination with an air heating system for supplying heated air to a plurality of separate enclosures via a space above the ceiling of the enclosures and through openings disposed therein wherein regulation of the systems is under control of the heating requirement of one of said enclosures, air cooling apparatus mounted above the ceiling in at least one of said enclosures, said apparatus including at least one thermoelectric panel having a plurality of heat rejecting junctions disposed on one side thereof and a plurality of heat absorbing junctions disposed on the opposite side thereof, means including a fan for inducing air flow from the enclosure over the heat absorbing junctions of said panel to lower the temperature of the air and for returning the cooled air to the enclosure, a recirculating water circuit including a coil arranged above the ceiling in communication with an enclosure other than the one receiving the cooled air, and pump means for directing the water in said circuit in heat transfer relation with the heat rejection junctions of said thermoelectric panel and to said coil where air flowing from the central station passes in heat transfer relation with the water flowing in said CQi and is discharged to said other enclosure.

5. In combination with a system for supplying heated or cooled air to a plurality of separate enclosures via a space above the ceiling of the enclospres and through openings disposed therein wherein regulation of the system is under control of a thermal requirement of one of said enclosures, heat pump apparatus mounted above the ceiling in at least one of said enclosures, said apparatus including at least one thermoelectric panel having a plurality of heat rejecting junctions disposed on one side thereof and a plurality of heat absorbing junctions disposed on the opposite side thereof, means including a fan for inducing air flow from the enclosure over one side of said panel to vary the temperature of the air and for returning the air to the enclosure, 21 recirculating water circuit including a coil arranged above the ceiling in communication with an enclosure other than the one over which said apparatus is mounted, and pump means for directing the water in said circuit in heat transfer relation with the junctions on the side of said panel opposite the side over which the air flows and to said coil where air flowing from the central station passes in heat transfer relation with the water flowing in said coil and is discharged to said other enclosure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,279,657 4/ 1942 Crawford 62--160 2,682,757 7/1954 Borgerd 62--259 2,817,217 12/1957 Winkler 62259 2,949,014 8/ 1960 Bolton 62--3 3,006,979 10/1961 Rich 623 3,111,813 11/1963 Blumentritt 623 3,165,900 1/1965 Huntington 623 3,178,894 4/ 1965 Mole 623 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner. 

1. AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING PAN INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND SPACED OPENINGS, CASING MEANS SURROUNDING THE FIRST OF SAID PAN OPENINGS, REFRIGERATION MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CASING MEANS, FAN AND DUCT MEANS FOR INDUCING AIR TO FLOW INTO SAID CASING MEANS THROUGH SAID FIRST OPENING INTO HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH A PORTION OF THE REFRIGERATION MEANS AND TO BE DISCHARGED THEREFROM, HEAT TRANSFER MEANS SUPPORTED ON SAID PAN IS REGISTRY WITH THE SECOND OF SAID OPENINGS, CONDUIT MEANS FORMING WITH SAID HEAT TRANSFER MEANS A CIRCUIT FOR THE FLOW OF A HEAT TRANSFER FLUID, A PART OF SAID CIRCUIT BEING DISPOSED IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH A SECOND PORTION OF SAID REFRIGERATION MEANS SO THAT HEAT EITHER ABSORBED OR REJECTED BY SAID HEAT TRANSFER FLUID AS IT FLOWS IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH SAID REFRIGERATION MEANS WILL BE EITHER REJECTED OR ABSORBED IN SAID HEAT TRANSFER MEANS. 